Kazakhstan culture, private life things

Kazakhstan culture overview

Russian travelers had a considerable influence on the cultural development of Kazakhstan. Thus, the noted Russian geographer Petr Semyonov-Tienshansky (1827-1914) played an important role in the career of Chokan Valikhanov (1835-65), the first Kazakh scholar and educator, who stood for the enlightenment of Kazakh people and their familiarization with Russian culture.

Valikhanov’s work in the field of education was carried on by the prominent Kazakh educator Ibrai Altynsarin (1841-1889). He organized public education in Kazakhstan, developed Kazakh alphabet based on Russian script and wrote the first textbooks for Kazakh schools.

Great was the role played by Kazakhstan national poet and enlightener Abai Kunanbayev (1845-1904) in the cultural history of Kazakh people. He was the creator of Kazakh literary language. A talented poet, he was also an excellent translator of works by Russian classics.